ICE Shooting of Alex Pretti

By Sue Kientz

On Saturday morning at about 9 a.m., January 24, 2026, in Minneapolis, MN, a scuffle broke out as ICE agents pushed a woman to the ground, and a tall man, filming with a cell phone in one hand, approached to help her up.(1) A melee ensued as agents surrounded the man, 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who after a struggle was himself thrust to the ground, his holstered, permitted gun taken away. Then, inexplicably, the immigration enforcement agents pulled back and shot him to death, firing 10 shots in 5 seconds. Witnesses reported that three gun shots hit his back, one in his upper left chest, and one in his neck.

Authorities were quick to announce that Pretti was found to have a gun, but as they did after the killing of Renée Good, also in Minneapolis just weeks before, they called Pretti a domestic terrorist and claimed he had threatened the ICE agents with his firearm. In the days that followed, many released videos captured by protestors at the scene do not show Pretti brandishing anything except his cell phone camera.

The details about Pretti that then emerged were that he was an intensive-care-unit (ICU) nurse who worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a gentle, caring man known for his kindness and desire to be of service.(2) With so many competing narratives, how does one unearth the truth? Not on earth; better to interrogate celestial guides untouched by earthly manipulation. In other words, let us consult astrology via the planets, Sun, and Moon.

Alex Jeffrey Pretti was born in Park Ridge, Illinois, on November 9, 1988,(3) close to a new moon in Scorpio that had lots of company. The Sun (17 Scorpio) and Moon (16 Scorpio) joined Pluto (12 Scorpio) and Mercury (4 Scorpio) on one side, and dwarf planet Varda (18 Scorpio) on the other. This potent group all opposed (180 degrees away, signifying a partnership or rivalry) Sedna (10 Taurus) a dwarf planet which, while on the small end of the larger Kuiper bodies, has an exceptionally long orbit of 11,400 years. Sedna’s majestic slowness bestows a power to endure suffering and exercise extraordinary patience, traits that can lead to great rewards.(4) That Pluto, “ruler” of Scorpio (meaning it expresses its greatest gifts in that Sign, which involve control, command, and empowerment) is present in the Sun-Moon grouping signifies the life starting at this moment will be challenged by issues of taking control, assuming command, and making a difference in others’ lives, especially those in need. With Mercury (representing Pretti’s thinking) near Pluto, he would instinctively exercise intense focus on whatever needed attention. The Sun-Moon-Pluto components especially symbolize he would devote himself fully and intently (Pluto) to what needed immediate attention, using his physical powers (Sun) as well as his emotional intensity (Moon) to address what he sensed needed action. With Varda beside his Sun, he had great insight and keen senses, as Varda, named for Tolkien’s Queen of the Valar, creators of the stars,(5) is often found in charts of those who “see” what others overlook.(6) All this power being opposite Sedna, whose Inuit myth recounts great suffering but with the chance of a transformative redemption, a great benefit for those who take on a painful burden of endurance that is bestowed at the end, well describes Pretti’s life of service to his veteran patients and aid to fellow health workers, who have come forward to speak of his gentleness and caring for his charges. All that power (Scorpio group) he bestowed on people in great need (Sedna) and while he commiserated with their trials of dealing with working through their illness or injury, his colleagues reported he was a joyous person, somehow filled with gratitude by the act of assisting others in reclaiming their health.

His actions, signified by the placement of his Mars (0 Aries), were highly considered, deliberate, and driven by his education. This modification of his Mars energy is due to it being square (90 degrees, a challenge that is best overcome by work) Neptune (8 Capricorn), Saturn (29 Sagittarius), and Uranus (28 Sagittarius), which represent his interest in helping the infirm (Neptune), aged (Saturn), and those suffering catastrophic injury or organ failure (Uranus). Mars, however, is also fortunately sextile (60 degrees, a supportive relationship) Jupiter (2 Gemini), indicating that he was capable of positive choices that benefited himself and those he cared for. Mars also participates in Pretti’s core Scorpio group, sesquiquadrate (135 degrees; can irritate or energize) the Sun, Moon, and Pluto, providing him considerable energy and drive to do all that he could.

One might judge that while perhaps he began life with such a positive predisposition, that his ignominious end, lying shot up on a street in Minneapolis, belies this promise. But the heavens argue this is not true, because they repeat the same indicators, show the same message to us from above, at the time of his passing. At that moment, the Sun (4 Aquarius), Pluto (3 Aquarius), Mars (0 Aquarius), Mercury (6 Aquarius) and Venus (8 Aquarius) are notably trine (120 degrees; one’s will is easily expressed) Sedna (0 Gemini). While all seem crowded in together, they are liberated from the pressures of determined Scorpio energy, to the freedom of Aquarius as well as supported with the trine to Sedna. This shows he has achieved a final blessed state that will involve an honored place in many Americans’ hearts and minds, for his sacrifice (Sedna themes).

To further clarify, when Pretti’s person and actions were first mischaracterized, libeled with false claims, his fellow protestors as well as Americans witnessing at home were cowed and ashamed. However, it was soon apparent that there was no wrongdoing, only right action within the law. This person so summarily slain gave his life, not to gain honor, not in the course of fighting in anger, but in the act of helping a woman who had fallen. His last words were, in fact, “Are you okay?”(7)

Title Image credit: Official portrait of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Notes and References

1. Erden, B., et al, “Timeline: A Moment-by-Moment Look at the Shooting of Alex Pretti,” The New York Times, updated 25 January 2026, 5:50 ET, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/01/24/us/minneapolis-shooting-alex-pretti-timeline.html
2. Work, M.C., and N. Ki, “Health care community mourns Alex Pretti, the VA nurse killed Saturday by federal agent,” MPRNews, 26 January 2026, https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/01/26/health-care-community-mourns-alex-pretti-va-nurse-killed-saturday-by-federal-agent
3. “Alex Jeffrey Pretti 1988 – 2026,” Forever Missed, https://www.forevermissed.com/alex-pretti/about -No time given; 7 a.m. CT used.
4. Kientz, S., “Treasure from the Depths,” the Sedna chapter from More Plutos that appeared in The Mountain Astrologer, Feb./March 2015 issue, pp 63-70; https://moreplutos.com/articles/Sedna-SueKientz_MtAstrol-Feb-Mar2015.pdf
5. “(174567) Varda = 2003 MW12,” IAU Minor Planet Center, https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=174567
6. Kientz, S., “Dwarf Planet Basics: Varda,” ANS, 6 November 2024, https://astrologynewsservice.com/articles/dwarf-planet-basics/ ; see Keywords and Notable Personalities sections
7. “Alex Pretti’s Sister’s Statement,” KARE 11 on YouTube, 27 January 2026,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwHM90TJYUg

For more details about the angles or relationships between planets, see Lynne Hyde’s “Astrology Basics,” 12 November 2024, ANS, https://astrologynewsservice.com/articles/astrology-basics/